Metro Morning

Guest host Molly Thomas talks to a teacher about if and how he will enforce the cellphone ban. The president of the secondary school teachers' union says the ban is a distraction from the government's funding cuts. Molly also learns about the cost of investing real dollars in affordable housing. And she talks literary romcoms and how they are more than they appear with The Takeoug author Lily Chu.

Guest host Molly Thomas talks to an education expert about the province's new(ish) cell phone ban. We follow a story we brought you earlier about how Shopper's pharmacists feel under pressure to sell MedsChecks programs and Molly speaks with the registrar of the Ontario College of Pharmacists about how to hold pharmacy owners accountable. And a conversation with the executive director of a Peel organization who says that Peel's ability to help women fleeing violence is floundering.

Thorncliffe Park is a neighbourhood undergoing major changes, and throughout it all the community rises up to support each other. David Common hosted a live event in Thorncliffe Park with community advocates, Mayor Olivia Chow and others to talk about the present, and the future of this neighbourhood.

This was part of CBC Toronto's Communities in Focus Initiative.

Toronto's garbage bins have been a source of controversy and satire for years. The mayor is hopeful the redesign will put a lid on the issues but the business owner that David spoke to isn't as optimistic. Movie columnist Jason Gorber defends movie theatres, and the hot mess that is the HotDocs festival this year. And we hear from the woman who sings the anthem at Leafs games about how she tries to inject hope into every note.

David taps into the excitement around the new Honda EV plants that will bring billions to the province, despite the lagging sales in EVs. And we hear from a Mississauga playwright who got the call he was waiting for from the game show Jeopardy, right as his mom's car was stolen. And we talk to a TikTok creator about what the TikTok ban could mean to small businesses who rely on the app for sales.

Host David Common takes on two trash talking hockey fans from opposite sides of the country. One who is peddling $67 dollar Maple Leaf poutine with a side of disappointment, Leaf fans take note. He also checks in with a food bank about a viral video from a bank worker who says the food bank is a great place to stock up, and he talks to a GTA man who bought a car from a dealership and later found out it was stolen, using a method police say is on the rise... you may want to check your VIN.

Host David Common talks to Beau Pinto who is checking out the city's 'sketchiest bars' but has found them to be places that provide community.. as well as some things he can't mention on the radio. David also talks to two Grade 12 students from Brampton who won an international competition about living in space. They say the sky's the limit for women in science.

Umar Zameer's lawyer talks about his client, the evidence, the family of the victim, the police chief, and politicians who were "reckless" commenting on the case for years before the trial.

Guest host Molly Thomas speaks to the co-curator of an exhibit on crime and footwear. Did you know that the word 'sneaker' is rooted in the way it allows people to 'sneak' around? Plus, could smaller trucks save lives?

The new federal budget plans to spend 53 million billion dollars, targeting Gen Z and millenials' future needs. David Common speaks to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow about what it means for this city. Lots of disagreement amongst our political panel on the possible effects on the Liberals' sliding fortunes and also between two economists on what this means for future generations.

David Common speaks to Toronto's city manager about the chaos behind the vacant tax debacle that charged one-fifth of homeowners. He also spoke to a Mississauga city councillor about how the expansion of GO transit may be the largest in decades, but it still wouldn't get him to our studio in time for an interview because Milton is in political purgatory. And we learn that monarch butterflies taste disgusting.

David learns that Toronto's name, based on the Indigenous word Tkaronto -- is actually a few hours north of the city. And he unpacks Israel's options after Iran's air assault on the weekend and a conversation with a hockey coach on whether there is a grey area between hazing and team building.

Woking Phoenix (say it out loud) -- smalltown Chinese restaurant as Canadian archetype; David Chang's attempt to squeeze out local chili crisp makers; a new co-operative foodhall; and T.O.'s most famous pizza, thanks to the Keith Lee effect.

Guest host Molly Thomas finds out if the new federal mortgage rules can make a difference to wannabe GTA homebuyers. And what it means when (not if) Auston Matthews hits the big 70 goals. Since it's Friday, Molly also tastes a beer made with tree sap. It's noon somewhere.

David talks to a commercial real estate agent about the increase of empty office spaces downtown, despite workers coming back to the office and the incentives being offered to get more leases signed. A conversation about the Conservatives' surprise move to support calling intimate partner violence an epidemic and Davis Schneider's dad tells us why he was outside the dome selling bootleg t-shirts with the mustached Blue Jay player's face on it.

Swans mate for a life and we talk to a swan expert about Mango and Charlotte's noisy reunion after Mango spent some time in rehab. Sexual assault cases are being thrown out of court because of a lack of judges, but a lawyer says the issues are much more complex than just empty benches.

We dig into the story of a Toronto lab that knowingly offered prenatal paternity tests that routinely identified the wrong fathers. We also talk to Toronto's Zach Edey's former coach on the promise of the NCAA's hottest player who has only been playing for a few years. And a conversation about fee-for-service medical clinics and their place in the Ontario health system.

David Common talks to the owner of Afro's Pizza, a tiny pizza place preparing for the onslaught of customers after TikTokker Keith Lee featured them in a million-view video (and gave them a 3-thousand dollar tip). We also speak to a woman in Thorncliffe Park who is using her own experience to help others furnish their apartment and we answer: what happens if a developer goes bankrupt after you give them your deposit?

Guest host Jill Dempsey has a conversation about what to do when you see someone on transit in distress, or maybe making a scene. We have some facts about the eclipse that may suprise you. And if you are not following women's basketball the enthusiasm of the first guest may just get you hooked.

Mississauga jumps on e-scooter rentals and a taxidermist scam that you have to hear to believe.

Four hundred economists say no to 'axe the tax', we speak to one of them, also how Queen's University is looking to a lottery to level the playing field for wanna-be doctors and we recap the fascinating trial of a man accused of killing a plainclothed police officer in a downtown parking lot, while the defence says the family was afraid for their lives.

From accusations of taxing the rain, to social media rewiring our brain and a visit from Petey the Peregrine falcon who watches over the airport, along with Ivan the eagle and 28 other birds of prey. It was a full day at Metro Morning.

Train Daddy Andy Byford has moved on to Amtrack but he still has thoughts about the future of transit in this city and beyond. And the VIA Rail CEO picks up on those thoughts to tell us that fast rail is coming to this province... eventually. But first, musician Kaia Kater on how Cowboy Carter is redefining country music.

David Common talks to the chair of the Toronto school board who is taking social media to court, a walk around the park where a dangerous dog lunged at a child and Suresh takes us to Scarborough for some Malaysian, Singaporean, Indonesisan food -- all in one place.

Today David talks to Ontario's Finance Minister about his new budget, asks a lawyer about the Jontay Porter sports gambling investigation and we learn more about the risks of owning a dangerous dog.

Imagine a new downtown theatre district with a public square, a surprising ad that challenges stereotypes about people with Down's Syndrome, how dangerous dogs need to muzzle up and the winners of the best cheese slice in the world are from Hamilton. You have to hear about their dough emergency.

From housing policy to a chat about old-school colognes to kids designing for a runway (it's not what you think). It's all in today's Metro Morning podcast

Dignity, hope, a down-payment on a couch -- a woman says Ontario's basic income pilot was life-changing and shouldn't have been cancelled; making the best of a bleak Scarborough transit outlook.

As a teen, he raised a raccoon and reunited with it years later when it recognized a song he sang -- now his wildlife control methods have changed the industry; Toronto Island landmark mourned.

"There's no school... there's no safe place... there's no life": Canadian worries about son and daughter in Haiti; Journalist in Port-Au-Prince says it's an "institutional and constitutional crisis".

Court battle over dead man's dog has many social and legal dimensions, according to Toronto law prof; "clean CBC comedy" is a certain genre that requires practice says comic.

Big Toronto WNBA news from the reporter who broke the story; Durham byelection: substantial win by formidable candidate, and significant for all parties.

Do you want to hear a story about a front porch delivery of cockroaches in a food container -- with supporting roles by a baby and a tarantula? Also GTA teen runner unofficially beats World Record.

Ont. Minister of Colleges and Universities says "to fund Universities on the backs of students is not fair" and "efficiencies" can help cover shortfalls, as long-term tuition freeze imposed on schools.